Raman scattering spectra, magnetic and ferroelectric properties of SiFeO3-CoFe2O4 nanocomposite thin films structure

Multiferroic (1-x)BiFeO3(BFO)-xCoFe(2)O(4)(CFO) (x=0 and 0.1) nanocomposite thin films were deposited on ITO coated glass using sol-gel spin coating technique. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy examinations confirm the coexistence of both perovskite BFO and spinet CFO phases. The effect of addition of CFO in BFO matrix has been studied on Raman spectra, magnetic and ferroelectric properties. BM/CFO nanocomposite showed good magnetic behavior (M-s similar to 40.3 emu/cm(3), M-r similar to 12.9 emu/cm(3), H-c similar to 90 Oe) with no change in ferroelectric properties. The strain analysis carried out by Raman spectroscopy reveals that both BFO and CFO bands are found to be strained in BFO/CFO composite nanostructure. The strain of the bands is discussed on the basis of lattice mismatch (interfacial stress) between CFO (a=0.839 nm) and BFO (a=0.396 nm) phases. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.